About
- The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was founded in 1995 under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987 to monitor and review the effectiveness of legal aid programs and to develop rules and principles for providing legal services under the Act.
- It also distributes funding and grants to state legal services authorities and non-profit organizations to help them execute legal aid systems and initiatives.
Constitutional Provisions
- Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that the State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity, and shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.
- Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity for all.
Objectives of National Legal Services Authorities
- Provide free legal aid and advice.
- Spread legal awareness.
- Organise lok adalats.
- Promote settlements of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms. Various kinds of ADR mechanisms are Arbitration, Conciliation, and Judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat, or Mediation.
- Provide compensation to victims of crime.
Legal Services Institutions at Various Levels:
- National Level: NALSA was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, of 1987. The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
- State Level: State Legal Services Authority. It is headed by the Chief Justice of the State High Court who is its Patron-in-Chief.
- District Level: District Legal Services Authority. The District Judge of the District is its ex-officio Chairman.
- Taluka/Sub-Division Level: Taluka/ Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee. It is headed by a senior Civil Judge.
- High Court: High Court Legal Services Committee
- Supreme Court: Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
Who is Eligible for Free Legal Services?
- Women and children
- Members of SC/ST
- Industrial workmen
- Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
- Disabled persons
- Persons in custody
- Those persons who have an annual income of less than the amount prescribed by the respective State Government, if the case is before any court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 5 Lakhs if the case is before the Supreme Court.
- Victims of Trafficking in Human beings or beggars.
Related Initiatives
- Legal Service Mobile App: To enable equitable access to justice, NALSA has launched Legal Services Mobile App on Android and iOS versions to enable easy access to legal aid to common citizens.
- DISHA Scheme: The Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched a comprehensive, holistic, integrated, and systemic solution to access to justice at pan India level through a scheme titled “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA)” being implemented from 2021-26. All the Access to Justice Programmes have been merged under the DISHA scheme and upscaled to all India levels.
- Nyaya Bandhu Platform: Facilitate connection between Pro Bono Advocates and registered beneficiaries, encouraging Pro Bono culture among law students, advocates, and law schools.
- Tele-Law Service: Connect beneficiaries with lawyers via tele/video conferencing, available in 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across 766 districts.
- Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS): Initiated by NALSA, ensures efficient legal aid in criminal cases by engaging full-time lawyers across 676 districts nationwide, mirroring public defender systems in developed countries.
- Nyaya Mitra program: Facilitate disposal of 15-year-old pending cases at the district level through its Nyaya Mitra program and to empower citizens through Pan India legal literacy and legal awareness program.
